Thread by @obasaolorunfemi

@BayoOlorire I smiled as I read your tweet and remembered when I felt this way as well, once. The frustration that ran amok in my bloodlines as a demanded answers from God. I was mad with anger, how dare he?! 🙈😂

@BayoOlorire I think you first need to understand what your definitions of “more” are, alongside “success” and “prosperity” and “making it”. The earlier in your life you can clarify your definitions correctly especially as a Christian, the easier your path will be and the ligter your steps.

@BayoOlorire Joshua 1:8 KJV; This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have GOOD success.

@BayoOlorire The above passage (and several others which I would not share now) reflect a few things:
- that God himself is interested in our success.
- that there is GOOD success and BAD success.
- that success take time.

@BayoOlorire “Success”/ “making it” et al ALWAYS takes time especially as patience is a critical factor in our development as Christians and as humans. Impatience will only leave you frustrated as a young man.

@BayoOlorire It is easy to say Christians are NOT top richest people in the world or Christians have never made it to any of the lists @Forbes (I dont know how true this is) but the real question here is “How do real christians (not church-goers) define wealth and riches?”

@BayoOlorire @Forbes Again, if your definitions are wrong, you will keep looking for them (rich christians) in the wrong places.

Also, we live in a society that has glorified materialism even when it is ill-gotten and against God’s instructions. It is easy to look at them, compare and feel left out

@BayoOlorire @Forbes Psalm 37:1 KJV; Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity (aka sin). The bible warns us against fretting (getting anxious/ worried) because some people seem to have “hammered” using illegal means.

@BayoOlorire @Forbes The bible goes further in Psalm 37:7 KJV; Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass; encouraging us to REST in the lord & cautions against FRETTING again. 🙂

@BayoOlorire @Forbes Does God want us poor? 1 Timothy 6:6 KJV answers but godliness with contentment is great gain. Implying that as much as we desire more than our current acquistions, it is even more important live godly and to be content with gratitude with what we have WHEN we have it.

@BayoOlorire @Forbes See Luke 12:25 KJV; which of you with taking thought (aka worrying/ fretting) can add to his stature (height) one cubit? Implying again that worrying does NOTHING and we gain nothing, heck we cant even increase our height by worrying, lol!

@BayoOlorire @Forbes What does the bible say about comparing ourselves to other people? 2 Cor 10:12; For we dare not.....compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

@BayoOlorire @Forbes But isnt God interested in our “hammering”? See Luke 12:27 KJV; Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. How the heck is a lily flower arrayed better than solomon?!!

@BayoOlorire @Forbes I understand that as a young Christians, especially as a Nigerian, balancing gratitude with ambition can be a challenge. But you know the funny thing? Even that ambition of yours, God is interested in it! 😊

@BayoOlorire @Forbes See Ephesians 3:20 KJV; Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. See the part of “ABOVE ALL WE CAN ASK OR THINK...?” Yep. God is very interested. However, there is a small caveat.

@BayoOlorire @Forbes The bible is littered with great and rich men who “hammered”; from Abraham to Isaac, to Joseph, Solomon, Hezekiah....I could go on and on but God ALWAYS gives TWO simple conditions:

@BayoOlorire @Forbes He reminds us he owns everything in Psalm 24:1 KJV that The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

See the first condition in Isaiah 1:19 KJV; If ye be WILLING and OBEDIENT, ye shall eat the good of the land. Secondly....

@BayoOlorire @Forbes See 1 Kings 18:36 KJV; And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that.....

@BayoOlorire @Forbes ...and that I have done all these things at thy word.

Elijah wasnt asking God for fire to come down so he could get the people to make him king, or show off, or get on forbes list of “Most powerful prophets” or post it on Instagram or get 2m IG likes.

@BayoOlorire @Forbes Elijah asked God to send down fire to show that he(God)alone is God in Israel, and that he (Elijah) is his servant, and that he (Elijah) had done all that things at his (God) word.

@BayoOlorire @Forbes As christians, ONLY God gets the glory. This is why you would rarely find real christians showing off wealth et al anywhere online or offline. He doesnt like to share his glory with anyone or anything and hates you giving more attention to what he has given you than himself.

@BayoOlorire @Forbes Finally, when God does bless you (and I know he will); what are you supposed to do with it?

See Proverbs 28:27 KJV; He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

@BayoOlorire @Forbes You are also expected to give to the work of God, not grudgingly or because it is by force or your duty or because someone demands you to and definitely not to show off BUT at your ability and discretion in all cheerfulness, humility and gratitude.

I hope this helps. 🙂

@BayoOlorire @Forbes Hello @Unrollme @threadreaderapp; please unroll. 🙂